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<\/p>\nThis article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).<\/p>\n
At the end of May, as the snow melts on Austria\u2019s mighty Salzburg Alps, the Gastein Valley springs to life. Cattle begin making their way to the alm (high mountain pastures), wildflower meadows bloom on hillsides and thawing ski slopes transform into more than 370 miles of hiking trails. Located 50 miles from Salzburg on the northern edge of Hohe Tauern National Park, it\u2019s a region that offers unbridled adventure while still being rooted in rural traditions. Gastein Valley\u2019s three biggest towns of Bad Gastein, Dorfgastein and Bad Hofgastein all offer easy access to the encircling mountains. However, the latter is the ideal base if time is short. After kicking off your walking boots, follow in the footsteps of 19th-century high society who flocked to bask in the area\u2019s geothermal waters, known then as \u2018the cure\u2019 for their reputed healing powers. Flowing from the foot of Bad Gastein\u2019s Graukogel mountain today, the valley\u2019s mineral-rich springs are the perfect place to unwind after time spent in the mountains.<\/p>\n
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The Finnish Crystal Sauna at Alpentherme Gastein is a good place to soothe the muscles after a day\u2019s hike.<\/p>\n
Marktl Photography, Alpentherme Gastein<\/p>\n
(For centuries, locals have been taking the waters of Bad Gastein\u2014here’s why you should too<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Day 1: Hikes & hot springsMorning<\/p>\n Catch the first gondola from Bad Hofgastein\u2019s Schlossalm Station at 8.30am, floating above the spruce trees to reach the mountain shoulder of Schlossalm. Encompassed by peaks, it\u2019s the starting point for many of the area\u2019s best hikes, including the two-hour climb to the summit of T\u00fcrchlwand at 2,577 metres. Follow the red-and-white markers, passing mountain buttercups and marmot burrows, before the trail steepens to a grassy slope dotted with patches of hard-packed snow. The\u00a0ascent earns you spectacular views towards Gro\u00dfglockner \u2014 Austria\u2019s highest mountain (3,798 metres). Take a guide (bookable at the Bad Hofgastein Tourist Office) if you\u2019re not an experienced climber.<\/p>\n Afternoon<\/p>\n After a high-altitude picnic on T\u00fcrchlwand\u2019s crest (pre-order a packed lunch from your hotel or Caf\u00e9 Zeit in Bad Hofgastein), descend back to Schlossalm for a hot chocolate on the terrace of Bergrestaurant Kleine Scharte<\/a>, perched above the valley at 2,050 metres. If there\u2019s energy for more hiking, veer east at the cable-car for the three-hour downhill trail to Bad Hofgastein, taking in forests, meadows and the tinkle of cowbells. You can hop aboard the Schlossalm cable-car at its middle station to cut the journey in half. Spend the rest of the afternoon with the mountains as your backdrop at Bad Hofgastein\u2019s Alpentherme<\/a> \u2014\u00a0nine acres of thermal pools and a swimming lake, naturally heated to between 32C and 36C.<\/p>\n Evening<\/p>\n Bad Hofgastein\u2019s Saturday summer evenings unfurl in leisurely fashion at the restaurant and bar terraces on the main thoroughfare of Kaiser Franz Platz. Around the corner, Aiche<\/a> is a modern but unpretentious restaurant opened last year by local chef Tobias Aichhorn, who honed his craft in Michelin-starred kitchens in Salzburg and Berlin. Set in a 15th-century home dating back to Gastein\u2019s gold-mining heyday, the restaurant uses produce sourced from across the valley to recreate innovative versions of Austrian classics; try the wiener schnitzel stuffed with bacon, mushrooms and onions. It\u2019s topped with a parsley mayonnaise and fresh herbs.<\/p>\n Homemade strudel with cottage cheese, apples and raisins is an Alpine speciality not to miss.<\/p>\n Mariha-kitchen, Getty Images<\/p>\n Day 2: Cycling & strudelMorning<\/p>\n Come Sunday morning, smartly dressed locals can be seen in traditional lederhosen and dirndl on their way to mass at Bad Hofgastein\u2019s Maria Himmelfahrt church. Pause to admire its 16th-century gothic architecture and imposing bell tower, en route to pick up wheels from Bike Gastein<\/a>. After a quick training session, the entry-level e-bike tour powers upwards through the steep turns of Angertal \u2014\u00a0a side valley amid high-Alpine forests. Along the way, stop at peaceful meadows to gaze down across rooftops dotted alongside the Gasteiner Ache river. Beyond, the glaciers of the Ankogel mountains should be visible, 10 miles away. The wind will be in your sails for the return loop; whizz downwards past Alpine huts and century-old barns, inhaling the fresh mountain air.<\/p>\n Afternoon<\/p>\n Back in Bad Hofgastein\u2019s centre, people-watch in the sun on Caf\u00e9 Schwaiger\u2019s terrace with a toastie followed by a slice of homemade strudel. There are several varieties of the traditional Austrian bake, ranging from classic apple to topfenstrudel \u2014 layers of flaky pastry filled with creamy quark cheese. After lunch, drop by the neighbouring town of Bad\u00a0Gastein<\/a>, which was founded on steep slopes during the area\u2019s boom as a health resort. Its grand 19th-century hotel facades are a contrast to the predominantly rural Alpine architecture of Bad Hofgastein. The town is a 15-minute bus ride away, but the best way to arrive is via a scenic four-hour, seven-mile hike along the Gastein Trail, which connects the two towns on foot. Elevated above the valley floor, the route includes an impressive tunnel carved through Gadauner Gorge.<\/p>\n Evening<\/p>\n Arriving in Bad Gastein, the 341m Gasteiner Waterfall demonstrates nature\u2019s full force, slicing its way down the middle of the hillside town in a blaze of surging glory. Stroll up to the central bridge on Kaiser Franz Josef Stra\u00dfe to get close enough to feel the spray that dampens the air. Take dinner beside an open fire at the cosy Bellevue Alm restaurant<\/a>, which sits above the town and features a rustic bar lit by giant cowbells fashioned into lamps. Comfort dishes on the menu include kasnocken \u2014 an Austrian take on mac-and-cheese. For dessert, don\u2019t miss the kaiserschmarrn \u2014 caramelised pancake pieces, flamb\u00e9ed in Grand Marnier and topped with plum compote.<\/p>\n Bad Gastein\u2019s mineral-rich spring waters made the town popular in the 19th century.<\/p>\n ako, Alamy<\/p>\n Six more outdoor wellness activities1. Herbal walks<\/p>\n Identify and collect wild camomile, woodland strawberries and horse chestnut while discovering their medicinal properties \u2014\u00a0as well as the odd Austrian old wife\u2019s tale \u2014 wandering the meadows on the edge of Bad Hofgastein alongside a herbal practitioner<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2. Yoga<\/p>\n In the stillness of Bad Hofgastein\u2019s Kurpark with the grass between your toes and the mountains at your back, instructor Fia Sonora<\/a> will lead you through gentle stretches and poses, bringing you into the present.<\/p>\n 3. Forest-bathing brunch<\/p>\n Start Sunday morning with an hour\u2019s mindful walk through Angertal\u2019s spruce forests, taking in birdsong and the sounds of the stream, ahead of a seven-course chef-prepared feast amid the woodland.<\/p>\n 4. Moonlight hikes<\/p>\n When the full moon illuminates the high meadows of Sportgastein valley, join former national park ranger Hans Naglmayr for an atmospheric night walk. Listen to his tales of the landscape, then soak in the silence of the mountains. The event runs monthly on Saturdays from May to November; book in advance at the Bad Gastein Tourist Office<\/a>.<\/p>\n 5. Wild swimming<\/p>\n There\u2019s no shortage of warm water pools in both Bad Gastein and Bad Hofgastein \u2014 the word \u2018Bad\u2019 denotes a spa town in German. However, travel further into the surrounding mountains and you\u2019ll find cold-water lakes for mind-clearing dips. Palfnersee is particularly scenic and is reached via gondola to the Graukogel mountain station, followed by a hike through a fragrant centuries-old pine forest.<\/p>\n 6. Trail running<\/p>\n Gastein Valley has long drawn trail runners to its paths, hosting the Adidas Terrex Infinite Trails championship every September. It\u2019s not just a sport for seasoned pros \u2014 Berglift Hotel<\/a> offers beginners guided runs through the valley. For a post-run wind down, hit the sauna at Alpentherme.<\/p>\n How to do itRamble Worldwide<\/a>\u2019s three-night Hiking in Austria: Bad Hofgastein Weekend Adventure costs from \u00a3699 per person based on two sharing, with B&B accommodation, local transport and a mountain guide. Departing June to September. <\/p>\n Getting there Where to stay Published in the April 2026 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Longweekend_GettyImages-621353388_HR.jpg\")
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British Airways and Ryanair are among the airlines flying direct to Salzburg from the UK.
It\u2019s a 25-minute bus ride<\/a> from the airport to Salzburg Main Station, then 1h10m by train to Bad Hofgastein. Journeys are free with Salzburgerland\u2019s complimentary Guest Mobility Ticket<\/a>, launched in 2025. <\/p>\n
Dating from 1421, the Post Post Hotel<\/a> in central Bad Hofgastein takes its name from its past life as a post office. Its spa features an outdoor pool, whirlpools and sauna. From \u20ac169 (\u00a3147), B&B. <\/p>\n